Sunday, July 26, 2015

Norfolk May 22, 2015 - USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) departed Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) May 22 following the successful completion of its Carrier Incremental Availability.Truman marked the first Carrier Incremental Availability performed at NNSY. These shorter carrier availabilities are usually performed at Naval Station Norfolk. The 15-week availability began in November, but Truman's time at NNSY was extended to allow for additional work to be performed."There were many advantages to performing the availability here at Norfolk Naval Shipyard," said Project Superintendent Nick Gianacakos. "NNSY is logistically better prepared to perform and support maintenance utilizing Job Readiness Cells, shop resources and readily available engineering support. NNSY and Ship's Force maximized the team approach and executed this shortened availability above expectations."Major tasks completed on Truman included modernization of the propulsion plant, main engine and attached lube oil pump repairs as well as major inspections of the catapult launch system. NNSY work was comprised of approximately 135,000 man-days, with support also provided by Ship's Force, Multi-Ship/Multi-Option (MSMO) contractor, Newport News Shipbuilding and Alteration Installation Teams (AITs).Twenty percent of the U.S. Navy's carrier force has been under the care of NNSY over the last several months. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) is now in the final stages of its Docking Planned Incremental Availability, a more comprehensive modernization event. To support continual production on this concentrated availability, Job Readiness Cells (JRCs) were placed for the Truman project team in both the carrier hangar bay and on the pier. JRCs provide mechanics tooling and consumables in an area conveniently co-located next to a project, supporting nonstop execution of work.As part of the One Shipyard concept, project team leaders traveled to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility to examine JRCs in execution on a carrier availability. "The JRC was utilized by the mechanics and zone managers and real-time feedback contributed to an ongoing improvement throughout the availability," said Gianacakos. JRCs on the pier will remain in place for the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) project team performing NNSY's next carrier availability.Project team leadership also credited strong communication and cooperation with Ship's Force. Working together, project team and ship leaders provided beneficial resources such as mentor coaching, additional advanced planning team training, and facility enhancement.Truman is the Navy's ninth nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth in the Nimitz class. The ship was launched in 1996 and delivered to the United States Navy in 1998.Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, is one of the largest shipyards in the world specializing in repairing, overhauling and modernizing ships and submarines. It's the oldest and largest industrial facility that belongs to the U.S. Navy. Under NAVSEA's "One Shipyard" concept, the naval shipyards level the workload and mobilize the work force across the yards to best ready the Fleet and stabilize a vital industrial base for our nation's defense.